Remington .41 Double Derringer

by
posted on March 24, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
remderringers-mod.jpg

Remington .41 Double Derringer

Gun: Remington .41 Rimfire Double Derringers

Condition: Nickel gun, 98 percent, NRA Antique Excellent plus; blue gun, 40 percent, NRA Antique Fine

Value: nickel gun, approximately $2,000; blue gun, approximately $800

The Remington Over-Under Double Derringer is doubtless one of the most widely recognized handgun designs. For many Americans raised on TV and Hollywood Westerns, it conjures images of smoke-filled saloons and paddle-wheel steamboats.

The two-shot .41 rimfire pistol enjoyed commercial success with an estimated production of more than 150,000 spanning nearly 70 years beginning just after the Civil War in 1866. Collectors recognize a number of variations over that period, but the basic design remained the same. The Remington pattern was popular enough that a number of other manufacturers have offered similar looking derringers, some still in production today, albeit with stronger designs and improved safety systems.

The firing pin shifts position when the hammer is cocked to alternate between striking the cartridge rims in the upper and lower chambers, providing two shots before reloading. The lever on the right side of the frame rotates 180 degrees forward to allow the barrels to be tipped up for loading and unloading. All but the very earliest production guns have a sliding manual extractor mounted on the left side of the barrels to aid in the removal of shells.

The gun offers a relatively large caliber close-range defensive arm in a compact package, although the now obsolete .41 rimfire short round has quite low velocity and low muzzle energy.

Both of the guns pictured are considered “Type IIs” or “Model 3s,” depending on which collector nomenclature you prefer, as identified by the wording of the barrel markings. They are the most common type, made from 1888 to 1911. It is generally not possible to estimate production dates closer than that, as these guns were made with “batch numbers” rather than “serial numbers.” This means that when the numbers marked on the guns reached “999” or “9999,” the numbering was usually started over with number “1.”

The nickel gun is in exceptionally nice condition, retaining well over 98 percent of its original nickel finish. The Blue Book of Gun Values estimates $1,500 for a 95 percent gun, and this one should bring more than that, possibly around $2,000. Although pearl grips were offered by Remington as a special-order feature, the pearl grips on this gun appear to be non-factory period replacements, being thinner than Remington pearls. The reduction in value due to replaced grips is probably balanced out by the more desirable fancy pearl material.

The blued gun, shown in the open position, retains less than half its original bright blue with the balance turned to a crisp gray to plum patina. It has the original checkered, hard rubber grips most commonly found on this model. Blue Book estimates the 40-percent gun at $800.

The hinge area at the top rear of the barrels is a weak point in the Remington design, and it’s not unusual to find these little guns with cracked or repaired hinges, which will reduce their value.

-Jim Supica

(Originally published October 2006. In the intervening years, the 40-percent condition blued gun has stayed about the same while, according to the 33rd Edition of The Blue Book of Gun Values, a 98-percent nickel gun increased to about $2,500.)

Latest

Robbins And Lawrence Armory Vermont
Robbins And Lawrence Armory Vermont

The Robbins & Lawrence Story: Pioneers Of Mass Production

The Robbins & Lawrence company of Windsor, Vt., was an early pioneer in the field of mass production, using machine tools and interchangeable parts to produce firearms for both the U.S. and British governments.

CMP Auctions Move To GunBroker.com

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has moved its popular auctions to GunBroker.com, an online firearm marketplace that launched in 1999, to further support the future of the shooting sports and firearm ownership.

I Have This Old Gun: The French Charleville Musket

One of the most important military arms ever made, the French Charleville musket saw use in the American Revolution and armed French troops throughout the Napoleonic Wars.

CVA Endura Series: The Modernized Muzzleloader Of 2025

CVA built on the success of its Paramount muzzleloader to create the Endura, a design that the company calls "the most advanced muzzleloader series CVA has ever built."

Review: FN 15 Guardian

FN America has sought to bring its legendary quality and reliability to an AR-15 that lists for just $999, and we believe that it has done this well with its 15 Guardian carbine.

Springfield Armory Hellcat Now Available In .380 ACP

Despite the extensive number of Hellcat models in its lineup, Springfield Armory has only offered the pistol in one chambering, 9 mm Luger, until now. The .380 ACP model offers similar capabilities with softer recoil.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.